Hear ye diligently my word, And my declaration with your ears.

And call Thou, and I -- I answer, Or -- I speak, and answer Thou me.

If determined are his days, The number of his months are with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over;

And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where is he?

And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep.

Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.

Both the gray-headed And the very aged are among us -- Greater than thy father in days.

Too few for thee are the comforts of God? And a gentle word is with thee,

What -- doth thine heart take thee away? And what -- are thine eyes high?

He is wandering for bread -- 'Where is it?' He hath known that ready at his hand Is a day of darkness.

I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters are ye all.

Is there an end to words of wind? Or what doth embolden thee that thou answerest?

I also, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul's stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.

My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished -- graves are for me.

If not -- mockeries are with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.

For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.

Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.

And the righteous layeth hold on his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And -- dumb are they all.

And where is now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?

Wherefore have we been reckoned as cattle? We have been defiled in your eyes!

Straitened are the steps of his strength, And cast him down doth his own counsel.

From beneath his roots are dried up, And from above cut off is his crop.

Only these are tabernacles of the perverse, And this the place God hath not known.

Why do you pursue me as God? And with my flesh are not satisfied?

Be ye afraid because of the sword, For furious are the punishments of the sword, That ye may know that there is a judgment.

As his own dung for ever he doth perish, His beholders say: 'Where is he?'

One hath drawn, And it cometh out from the body, And a glittering weapon from his gall proceedeth. On him are terrors.

Hear ye diligently my word, And this is your consolation.

Their houses are peace without fear, Nor is a rod of God upon them.

They wear out in good their days, And in a moment to Sheol go down.

They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away,

Lo, I have known your thoughts, And the devices against me ye do wrongfully.

For ye say, 'Where is the house of the noble? And where the tent -- The tabernacles of the wicked?'

That to a day of calamity is the wicked spared. To a day of wrath they are brought.

And how do ye comfort me with vanity, And in your answers hath been left trespass?

Widows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.

Therefore round about thee are snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly.

Or darkness -- thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.

Is not God high in heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.

Thick clouds are a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually,

'Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.'

For He doth complete my portion, And many such things are with Him.

From the inundation of hills they are wet, And without a refuge -- have embraced a rock.

He giveth to him confidence, and he is supported, And his eyes are on their ways.

High they were for a little, and they are not, And they have been brought low. As all others they are shut up, And as the head of an ear of corn cut off.

The rule and fear are with Him, Making peace in His high places.

The Rephaim are formed, Beneath the waters, also their inhabitants.

Lo, these are the borders of His way, And how little a matter is heard of Him, And the thunder of His might Who doth understand?

Lo, ye -- all of you -- have seen, And why is this -- ye are altogether vain?

If his sons multiply -- for them is a sword. And his offspring are not satisfied with bread.

His remnant in death are buried, And his widows do not weep.

A stream hath broken out from a sojourner, Those forgotten of the foot, They were low, from man they wandered.

A place of the sapphire are its stones, And it hath dust of gold.

And the wisdom -- whence is it found? And where is this, the place of understanding?

Corals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.

And the wisdom -- whence doth it come? And where is this, the place of understanding?

Destruction and death have said: 'With our ears we have heard its fame.'

For the ear heard, and declareth me happy, And the eye hath seen, and testifieth to me.

To me they have hearkened, Yea, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.

From the midst they are cast out, (They shout against them as a thief),

Among shrubs they do groan, Under nettles they are gathered together.

If not -- say ye, O men of my tent, 'O that we had of his flesh, we are not satisfied.'

Instead of wheat let a thorn go forth, And instead of barley a useless weed! The words of Job are finished.

And Elihu hath waited earnestly beside Job with words, for they are older than he in days.

And Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answereth and saith: -- Young I am in days, and ye are age Therefore I have feared, And am afraid of shewing you my opinion.

The multitude are not wise, Nor do the aged understand judgment.

Lo, I have waited for your words, I give ear unto your reasons, Till ye search out sayings.

And unto you I attend, And lo, there is no reasoner for Job, Or answerer of his sayings among you.

And he hath not set in array words for me, And with your sayings I do not answer him.

And yet, I pray thee, O Job, Hear my speech and to all my words give ear.

Of the uprightness of my heart are my sayings, And knowledge have my lips clearly spoken.

If thou art able -- answer me, Set in array before me -- station thyself.

Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth:

His flesh is consumed from being seen, And high are his bones, they were not seen!

If there are words -- answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify thee.

If there are not -- hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom.

Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.

For the ear doth try words, And the palate tasteth to eat.

Against my right do I lie? Mortal is mine arrow -- without transgression.'

And if there is understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words.

Yea, doth one hating justice govern? Or the Most Just dost thou condemn?

That hath not accepted the person of princes, Nor hath known the rich before the poor, For a work of His hands are all of them.

For His eyes are on the ways of each, And all his steps He doth see.

Therefore He knoweth their works, And He hath overturned by night, And they are bruised.

Job -- not with knowledge doth he speak, And his words are not with wisdom.

If thou hast been righteous, What dost thou give to Him? Or what from thy hand doth He receive?

And none said, 'Where is God my maker? Giving songs in the night,

Honour me a little, and I shew thee, That yet for God are words.

For, truly, my words are not false, The perfect in knowledge is with thee.

He withdraweth not from the righteous His eyes, And from kings on the throne, And causeth them to sit for ever, and they are high,

And if prisoners in fetters They are captured with cords of affliction,

And He uncovereth their ear for instruction, And saith that they turn back from iniquity.

He draweth out the afflicted in his affliction, And uncovereth in oppression their ear.

And the judgment of the wicked thou hast fulfilled, Judgment and justice are upheld -- because of fury,

Whether for a rod, or for His land, Or for kindness -- He doth cause it to come.

How thy garments are warm, In the quieting of the earth from the south?

Let us know what we say to Him, We set not in array because of darkness.

Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.

Who placed its measures -- if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?

On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?